Two days ago, Fiona had been dispatched by Heisenberg to Mera's side, tasked with helping Mera uncover the secret of the Trident of Neptune buried somewhere in the Sahara Desert!
In Mera's view, recovering the Trident of Neptune was the fastest path for her to become the ruler of the seas!
But after two full days, the two of them still hadn't found a single clue.
Fiona had no complaints about this. She actually liked the desert environment quite a lot, because the sunlight was intense there, which made it easier for her to absorb solar energy and strengthen herself.
She wouldn't have minded staying a few more days.
But then, she heard Heisenberg's voice speaking directly into her ear.
When Mera turned to look at her because of it, Fiona looked back at Mera in turn.
Their gazes met for a brief moment. Mera thought for a second, then said to Fiona:
"Let's change the plan. I'm going to return to my kingdom and bring some people who might support me to see Lord Heisenberg's divine realm!
If I win their support, then I'll have just as much right to sit on the throne of the seas.
Especially my father—I have to bring him along. As long as he supports me, I'll at least be able to control the Kingdom of Xebel among the seven kingdoms!"
As she spoke, Mera casually took hold of Fiona's wrist.
Fiona was a bit uncomfortable with the gesture, but Heisenberg's orders were to temporarily obey Mera, so she didn't pull her hand back.
So she let Mera's warmth ripple against her wrist as she nodded at Mera.
"I think that works. So let's head back to the sea!"
"Right. You fly me there—preferably fast!"
"Don't worry!"
Fiona nodded with a cold expression, then instantly shot into the air. Sand exploded across the Sahara as the two women vanished into the clouds in the blink of an eye.
...
Atlantis, the royal palace of the Kingdom of Xebel.
King Nereus sat wearily on his throne, speaking in a low voice with Vulko, the vizier of the Kingdom of Atlantis, who stood below.
"Your Majesty Nereus, there's no need to worry so much. Princess Mera has merely received a summons from a god.
Perhaps this is her good fortune."
Vulko said gently, offering comfort.
Hearing Vulko's words, Nereus nodded reluctantly, then responded with a sigh.
"It's because she was summoned by a god that I think the trouble is enormous!
We all know very well what those so-called gods were like back then!
I only just betrothed Mera to Orm. Heaven knows what that stubborn, brutal boy will do to me if something goes wrong!"
As he spoke, the king of Xebel shook his head helplessly and continued.
"Vulko, that true king of yours has been marching steadily toward becoming the Ocean Master.
Waging war against the surface-dwellers seems to have become his sole pursuit.
If Mera can't follow the original plan and take her place at his side to exert enough influence, do you really think we can just march onto land and attack the surface world?"
As Nereus's words faded, Vulko couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy. Orm's temperament would never make for a good husband.
As the former personal attendant of Queen Atlanna, Vulko had watched Mera grow up.
Seeing Nereus treat Mera as nothing more than a tool made his heart ache.
"Sigh..."
He let out a long sigh, about to say something more.
But then, a violent tremor completely cut him off!
He swiftly drew his spear and looked toward the distance on his left. The sudden vibration seemed to be coming from exactly that direction!
Then Nereus shot to his feet, cutting through the water as he rushed toward the source of the tremor.
Vulko followed warily, swimming after him on guard.
...
At the same time, in a side hall of the Xebel royal palace, Fiona dragged Mera down to the ground using the Kryptonians' usual method of landing.
And what exactly is the Kryptonian method of landing?
Crash straight through the walls, smash through the glass, and barge right in...
Looking at the bedroom around her, nearly destroyed by the force of the surging water, then at her favorite bed completely crushed beneath the collapsed dome...
The sight made Mera's blood pressure spike. Her eyes nearly went red on the spot!
As for Fiona, not only did she not mind, she was actually surveying her surroundings with great interest.
"So you really do live in an underwater kingdom. That's completely incompatible with your body structure!"
Fiona said as she looked Mera up and down, her eyes scanning her figure twice.
Immediately, Mera smacked Fiona's arm in annoyance. Being seen through like that felt absolutely terrible!
Sensing Mera's displeasure, Fiona nodded noncommittally, then switched to another topic and continued questioning Mera.
"Now I'm suddenly curious. Judging by your body structure, you people need to perform the same basic excretory functions as humans, right?
So, living in the water like you do, how exactly do you excrete? Does it just... float up beside you?"
"You—!!!"
Mera was instantly furious and embarrassed. You damn Kryptonian woman, you're absolutely insufferable! And to think I found you sexy just a second ago!!!
Mera turned away in a huff, refusing to engage with Fiona's speculation any further.
She left the bedchamber and swam toward her father's palace.
Along the way, Mera ran into Nereus and the guards who had come looking for her. Before Nereus could even speak, Mera grabbed his arm.
"Father, I just received a message from His Lordship. He's invited me to bring some trustworthy people to the banquet celebrating the completion of his divine realm!
I hope you'll come with me. Lord Heisenberg is worthy of every grand title there is!"
"I—"
"You have to go, Father. Whether it's the situation in the seas or the situation on Earth, the entire world is going to change because of His Lordship's emergence.
If we can't climb aboard His Lordship's chariot, it won't be long before other sea-dwellers who've sided with him overthrow us completely!"
Mera made the decision for Nereus without hesitation.
Hearing his daughter's words, Nereus thought for a moment, then nodded.
"As long as you came back safe, that's all that matters. As for this god's divine realm, of course I would be honored to receive his invitation.
Promise me—as long as you don't go running off again, I'll accompany you to the banquet.
Can you do that?"
"Your Majesty Nereus, it seems Princess Mera has already found a new direction. There's no need for you to worry like this."
From the side, Vulko—whose presence had been practically nonexistent—spoke softly, while also giving Mera a wink.
Mera finally noticed the vizier of Atlantis!
She quickly released her father and instead grabbed Vulko's arm, asking sweetly:
"Vulko, what are you doing here in Xebel? Did Orm actually give you time off?"
"Because the king of Xebel lost his daughter somewhere in his own palace, so of course I had to come take a look!"
Vulko said, clearly annoyed.
Seeing the grumpy look on her mentor's face, Mera rolled her eyes—a pretty little gesture—then said with a smile:
"Alright, alright. That was all His Lordship's invitation. I wasn't in any position to refuse.
Besides, didn't I bring back good news for you?
Vulko, come with us to the surface tonight too. I'll take you to meet His Lordship in person, and then you'll see just how reliable he really is!"
"Of course, I'm willing to go with you. But shouldn't you first explain who that is?"
As he spoke, Vulko pointed at Fiona, who stood off to the side with a cold expression.
Noticing Vulko's gesture, Fiona raised her chin disdainfully and said coolly:
"I am Fiona, captain of the Solar Guard of the divine realm. Do you not want that finger anymore?!!"
"I..."
Vulko was instantly speechless. He suddenly found himself gaining a bit of confidence in this so-called sun god.
If even his subordinates were this domineering, his strength must be considerable!
...
Meanwhile, inside the divine realm.
After Heisenberg announced the decision to hold a banquet and a Justice League war council that evening, Bzzd's communicator received the latest message.
"I've arrived on Earth!"
Seeing this, Bzzd's compound eyes twitched slightly. He flew up from the little broken sphere and came before Heisenberg, saying:
"That Abin you're interested in is here. I'll go find him now.
The two of us together will be able to dig up news on Brainiac in no time. Don't worry!
I won't let your gift go to waste!"
With that, Bzzd left the divine realm, flying off through the passage the little broken sphere had opened for him.
Not long after, atop Mount Everest, the highest peak in the world...
Abin looked coldly at the green light approaching him and offered a less-than-friendly greeting.
"Well, if it isn't the Green Lantern of Sector 2261. What brings you dropping by Sector 2814?"
"Ha, cut the small talk. Let's exchange intel!"
Bzzd showed no sign of joking around. As he landed on Abin's shoulder, he explained in a low voice:
"I've met the one who took Mogo. He's indeed a sun god with considerable mastery over divine authority.
But what struck me as strange is this—though he's a newly born god, his divine power belongs to the lineage of the ancient gods.
Unlike the New Gods, who chase nothing but raw power, this sun god already possesses a genuine understanding of cosmic law!"
Having said that, Bzzd simply dismissed the green light, showing Abin his current appearance.
Looking at the visibly excited Bzzd, Abin was genuinely surprised. Bzzd's body—originally no bigger than a fingernail—had now grown to the size of two fingernails!
"You've... gotten bigger?" he asked in shock.
Hearing this, Bzzd rubbed his compound eyes with his tiny legs as if he were looking at an idiot.
"I've evolved. This isn't just getting bigger—he actually granted me basic intelligence!
With this alone, all my future children will inherit my genes and become super-bees that, even if as weak as before, will possess true intelligence!"
"My god... that's divine authority. He's an Old God, even more formidable than the New Gods!"
Abin finally understood. He reached up and patted Bzzd's now-harder wings, then asked softly:
"Seems he left a good impression on you. Otherwise you wouldn't have come to me so quickly to speak on his behalf."
"He really did. His personality isn't like those fools controlled by power and worship.
On the contrary, he likes sunbathing, knows how to enjoy life, and he also enjoys going up against the guys on our wanted list!"
At this, Bzzd tapped Abin's shoulder with a slender leg and continued:
"Anyway, you don't need to get involved in the Mogo matter. She didn't violate protocol by switching defensive sectors without authorization.
The divine realm where Mogo currently resides belongs to another dimension—that space is this new ancient god's territory, not the solar system."
Hearing this, Abin nodded in understanding. As long as Mogo didn't cause trouble in the solar system, that was fine.
As for this sun god, Abin would find time to gather more intelligence on him later.
Before the sun god, though, Abin was more curious about why Bzzd had sought him out in the first place.
"I'll take your word for it. I'll set those matters aside for now—just consider it you and Mogo dropping by my turf for a visit.
But you didn't come to see me just to tell me all this. Since we both have the time, go ahead and speak."
"Of course!"
Bzzd nodded readily, then explained:
"That Heisenberg has set his sights on Brainiac—one of the most terrifying enemies in the top ten of our wanted list.
I think this is a chance to eliminate Brainiac. At the very least, we can liberate countless cities from his grasp!"
"Brainiac?"
Hearing Bzzd's explanation, Abin's expression brightened.
"You mean that city collector the Guardians ordered us not to interfere with?
If we can really use someone else's power to take him down, that would be an excellent thing indeed!"
/-\
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